Casting machine



March 21, 1950 R. H/ORR CASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21,1945 March 21, 1950 R, H, ORR 2,501,536

CASTING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1945 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR March21, 1950 Filed April 21, 1945 R. H. oRR 2,501,536

CASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 o I 7 a A INVENTOR Faber) 07'7' ATORNEY R. H. ORR

CASTING MACHINE March 21, 1950 Filed April 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR To be? /7 07'?" 5 5 ATTORAQY Patented Mar. 21, 1950 2,5di i6CASTING MACHINE Robert H. Orr, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to TennesseeCoal, Iron and Railroad Company, a corporation of Tennessee ApplicationApril 21, 1945, Serial No. 589,515

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to casting machines which, while notlimited .thereto, are peculiarly well suited for casting elongated tinanodes used in electrolytic tinning processes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide improved means forcasting metal objects in separable mold sections equipped with powermeans for separating the sections and power means for ejecting thecastings from the molds.

Another object of the invention is to provide supporting means includingpower-operated mechanism for shifting one of the mold sectionsrelatively to the other and for imposing pressure to hold the moldsections in tight engagement with one another when the latter are inclosed casting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide power means for ejectinga casting from the mold after the sections thereof have been separated.

An additional object is to provide a conveyor table in a position toreceive the castings ejected from the mold by said ejector means.

Another object is to provide means for tiltably supporting the conveyorand power means for tilting such supporting means.

A further object is to combine and coordinate the variousinstrumentalities shown and described, in such manner that theyindividually and7 jointly perform the functions hereinafter set for h.

The above and further related objects are made available by theembodiment of the invention herein shown.

For a more complete disclosure of the invention, reference should bemade to the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings,and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a casting machine embodying the hereinclaimed invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of Figure 1, taken on line II-II ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the position ofmovable mold sections after they have been separated from complementaryfixed sections, and also illustrating a different position of certainelements of the casting ejector mechanism.

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the piping and valves controlling theoperation of the several air cylinders which actuate the variousmechanisms herein described.

Referring in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated,numerals |0l0 represent side frames which are spaced apart by transversecross members l2--|2 and longitudinal members I l-l4. A transverse crossmember 16, rigidly secured to frame members Ill-4i), carries ears 2 l8which support a pivot pin which passes through a lug 22 depending from across member 24 secured to the side angle bars 26 constituting the mainframe elements of a conveyor table indicated as a whole at 28. Journaledbetween the angles 26 of the conveyor table 28 is a series of rotatablymounted rolls 29 collectively constitutinga roller table over which thecastings are adapted to be ushed or to roll by gravity when the table isinclined.

A fluid pressure cylinder 30 fulcrumed on a pin 32 carried by a bracket33 is secured to the frame structure. Within the cylinder 30 is a pistoncarrying a rod 34 pivotally connected by a pin 36 to a lug dependingfrom the under side of the conveyor table. As thus arranged, it isapparent that by supplying pressure fluid to either end of the cylinder3|], the conveyor table can be rocked about the pivot pin 2!} so as tovary the angularity thereof.

Supported at an angle oblique to the uprights In of the frame are aplurality of fixed brackets 38 to which are secured fixed mold sections40 of angular cross-sectional or L shape, as shown. Slidably guided onthe fixed brackets 38 are supporting heads 42 which are connected bypins 44 with upstanding ears 46 secured to movable L-shaped moldsections 48 which are complements of the fixed mold sections 4B, thelatter being provided with notched portions 5c forming seats forcoaction with the tongue extremities 52 of the movable sections 48. Theheads 42 make a comparatively loose sliding fit on the guides of thebrackets 38, and said movable mold sections 48 are suspended fromrespective pairs of adjustable links 54 connected by pins 56 with thecranks 58 secured to rock shafts 62. At one end of each shaft, eachcrank 58 has a bell crank arm 60 and 60 respectively. The shafts 62 aremounted in brackets 64 secured fixedly to the uprights ll] of the frameof the machine. The arm 60 of the right-hand bell crank of Figures 2 and'3 is connected by a pin H! to the clevis end of a piston rod 12extending from a piston M operating in the cylinder 68. The left-handbell crank arm 66 of Figures 2 and 3 is connected to a pin 66 carried byears at the left end of the cylinder 68. When fluid pressure is admittedto the left-hand end of the cylinder, as viewed in Figure 2, the piston14 will be forced outwardly and thus materially increase the distancebetween the pins 66 and 10, thereby rocking the cranks 58 so as to liftthe supporting heads 452 to the position of Figure 3 and thus separatethe upper mold sections 48 from the lower mold sections 40. When fluidpressure is admitted to the right end of the cylinder 68, the piston i4,through the connections shown, will shift the mold parts to the closedposition of Figure 2, and forcibly hold them in such position.

A pair of wedge members 16 having converging faces 78 cooperating withwedge faces 89 formed on the upper mold sections #8 are providedwithlateral extensions 82 which are pivotally connected with the pins 4 3.The pins 44 connect with the links 54 and pass loosely through slots atin the ears 45, so as to provide for a slight amount of lost motion toprovideaclearance between the wedge faces '18 and the wedge projections80, as shown in Figure 3, when the'mold sections are separated. When themold sections are closed, as illustrated in Figure 2, the-Wedgemembersit are held by the pressure of the piston in cylinder fit in a manner tofirmly hold the tongue portions 52 of the movable mold sections 58against the grooved seats 59 of the fixed mold sections Ill). Theconjoint action of the fluid pressure means and the wedge membersdescribed provides an extremely tight joint between the interfittingseparable mold parts, and thus insures the formation of clean-corneredcastings, which is highly desirable in the casting of tin anodes for usein an electrotinning process.

For ejecting the castings from the -mold' sections, I provide cylinders86' having pistons 88 working therein carrying ejector rods 93 which areadapted to be moved from the position of Figure 2 to the position ofFigure "3 so as to strip the castings C from the molds and to transferthem onto the rollers 29 of the conveyor table.

As shown in Figure 5, I provide a valve-and piping layout whereby theoperations of all the operating cylinders can be controlled from acommon station convenient to the operator. As illustrated, 52 representsan air line connected to a suitable supply of compressed air (notshown). Said air line is connected with four individual four-way valves84, 96, 98, and Hill.

The valve 94, which controls theconveyortilting cylinder 38, is afour-way valve without neutral position, and is connected with oppositeends of cylinder Si! by pipes B l anda i as shown.

Valves 9t andlill, which control the ejector cylinders 88, are springbiased four-way valves which automatically return to position after eachoperation. They are connected to the opposite ends of cylinders 85 byrespective pipes 95 95 93 and 98 as shown.

Valve iilfl, which controls the mold opening and closing cylinder 58, isa four-way valve without neutral position, and it is connected-with thepposite ends of cylinder 68 by pipes lllll and lim as shown.

With the arrangement of operating cylinders connected with theirrespective control valves as shown and described, interlocks between thevalves are not necessary, since the valves 9% and as which control thecylinder 86 for ejecting the cast anodes from the molds are returnedautomatically to closed position by suitable springs. not shown thuspreventing the ejector rods 98 from interfering with the lowering of theupper mold sections 6-8. In the event that the valve 94 should beinadvertently operated at any time during the pouring of metal intothemolds, no harm would result, since such act would merely 4 shift theposition of the conveyor table about its pivotal support 20.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in the normal operation ofthe casting machine illustrated, molten metal may be poured into themolds at the point 93. At the time of casting, it will be understood,there will be pressure on the right side of the piston M in the cylinder88, so as to thus cause the cranks 58, arms 68, 69 and links 5 to pressdown on the wedge members 16 and thereby forcibly hold the upper movablemold sections 48 in firm engagement with the lower fixed sections 40.After the casting has solidified within the mold sections, air pressurewill be admitted to the left end of the cylinder 68, as viewed inFigures 2 and 3, to thus lift the links E l, and through the connectionsdescribed, raise the upper mold sections l8. After the mold sections areseparated, the operator will shift the valves 96 and 98 to cause theejection of the castings onto the conveyor table, which at this timewill be inclined at the same angle asthe mold sections. Thereafterwhenthe ej rods have been retracted, the operator may operate the valve i lto shift theconveyor to substantially horizontal position to arrest orcontrol the gravity travel of the castings along the conveyor table, asdescribed.

While I have described quite precisely a preferred practical embodimentof the invention, it is not to be construed that I am limited'thereto,since various modifications may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A casting machine comprising a frame, a pair of lower mold sectionsof L-shape in crosssection rigidly supported on said frame, a pair ofcomplementary movable upper mold sectionsof inverted L shape incross-section, uprights fixed to said frame and arranged inopposed pairsalongsideeach of said lower mold sections, a plurality of heads, one ofwhich isslidable on each of said uprights, a pair of rock shaftsrotatably supported on said .frame and carrying cranks operativelyconnected through said upper mold sections to said heads, mechanism forrocking said shafts, and wedge means responsive to movement of saidcranks and having lost motion connections with said upper mold sectionsfor firmly holding said upper mold sections in closed position on saidlower mold sections.

2. A casting machinecomprising a frame, .a conveyor on said frame, apair of lower mold sec tions of L-shape in cross-section, one of whichis rigidly supported on said frame at each side of saidconveyor todischarge castings thereto, a pair of complementary movable upper moldsections of inverted L-shape in cross-section, uprights fixed to saidframe and arranged in opposed pairs alongside each of said lower moldsections, a plurality of heads, one of which is slidable on each of saiduprights, a pair of rock shafts rotatably supported on said frame andcarrying cranks operatively connected through said upper mold sectionsto said heads, mechanism for rocking said shaftsv and thereby raisingand lowering said upper mold sections, and wedge means responsive tomovement of said cranks and having lost motion connections with saidupper mold sections for firmly holding said upper mold sections inclosed position on said lower mold sections.

3. A casting machine comprising a frame, a conveyor on said frame, apair of lower mold sections of L-shape incross-section, one of which isrigidly supported on said frameat each side of said conveyor todischarge castings thereto, a" pair of spaced complementary movableupper J mold sections of inverted L-shape in cross-sec f tion, uprightsfixed to said frame and arranged in opposed pairs alongside each of saidlower.

mold sections, a plurality of heads, one of which i slidable on each ofsaid uprights, a pair of rock" shafts rotatably supported on said frameand carrying cranks operativeiy connected through said upper moldsections to said heads, mecha l nism for rocking said shafts and therebyraising and lowering said upper mold sections, and

wedge means spanning the space between said upper mold sections andbeing connected to opposed pairs of heads and having lostmotion con;

nections with said upper mold sections for firmly holding said uppermold sections on said lower I mold sections when the upper sections arelow;

ered, said upper mold sections leaving unob structed the space betweensaid lower mold sections when the upper sections are'raised.

ROBERT H. ORR.

6 REFERENCES cum) The following referencesare of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

